Grayson’s Art Club Rating: The Great British Intelligence Test Rating: Three cheers for the irascible Maggi Hambling. While celebrities were falling over themselves to appear on Grayson’s Art Club (C4), the 74-year-old sculptress announced that either she did it her way or everyone else could get stuffed. First of all, she wasn’t doing any of this … Read more
Frankenstein (NT at Home, YouTube) Verdict: There be monsters… Rating: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (BBC iPlayer) Verdict: A dream of a Dream Rating: Duelling has been illegal in Britain for hundreds of years, but that didn’t stop Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller going musket to musket in the National Theatre’s Frankenstein in 2011. Danny … Read more
The Real Marigold Hotel (BBC1) Rating: First Dates Hotel (C4) Rating: You can tell a lot about a celeb from what he packs in his suitcase. Henry ‘Blowers’ Blofeld, cricket commentator and bon viveur, took an armful of colourful shirts and a bottle of champagne to India, on The Real Marigold Hotel (BBC1). Paul ‘Chuckle … Read more
Extraction (Netflix, 15) Verdict: Violent and derivative Rating: Extraction. It seems fitting that a film that sounds like a dental training video should set your teeth on edge. It stars Chris Hemsworth as that staple character of modern action movies, the former ‘special ops’ soldier, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, now working as … Read more
The Great British Sewing Bee Rating: Our Queen At War Rating: How things change. When comedian Joe Lycett arrived to transform The Great British Sewing Bee (BBC1) last year, home-made clothes seemed as old-fashioned as steam trains and oil lamps. But if lockdown goes on much longer, we’ll all be at it — as well … Read more
Women could be allowed to freeze their eggs for DECADES as government reviews current ten-year limit After 10 years frozen eggs must be used in fertility treatment or destroyed Campaigners say the current practice is arbitrary’ and has no scientific basis Treatment cycles with frozen eggs rose from 410 in 2012 to 1,462 in 2017 By … Read more
Few things in life are as simple – or as pleasurable to eat – as a burger. That first bite, the rich, meaty and slightly charred flavours, mixed with smooth, salty cheese, the sharpness of onion and the tang of veg and sauce. If this sounds vaguely obsessive, it’s because I’ve not eaten one since … Read more
Truro’s coat of arms shows a tin miner and a fisherman, in homage to the industries that made the city what it is today. The mining has long gone, and the fishing is under threat, but, somehow, Truro rumbles on, with its mix of Gothic, Georgian and Victorian buildings, independent stores (a few, anyway) and … Read more